Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-03-18

lCopW1ght, 1886, by 4 y. hsI!ogg Ses'spapsr Co.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE SUFFERINGS IN The POOR HOUSE.
The unfortunate beings who are sent
to the poor-hovse deserve the pity of the
entire human family. They are always
treated to the plainest, coarseSt food
and wearing apparel, and frequently
not enough of that. The poor-house is
usually let out by contract to the low
est bidder, and the contractor who
takes it as a job tries to make the most
out of his job. Poor-house contractors
are not always humane men. They
often abuse their elpless victims, and
as they get so much per head for every
member, it is to their interest to have
many, and feed them as cheaply as
possible.
In the case of Bill Jones contract,
like many others, it was. what is some
times called, political job. Bill fur
nished Arnold's man for collector of
revenue all the votes in his school
district, and Arnold, who had elected
the county justice, just as one or two
men sometimes do elect every officer in
their county, had Bill appointed poor
house keeper. We fear the county
justices did not look to the interests of
those unfoFtunates who depend on them
for the little comfort they require in
this world. They did not study the
physiognomy of those brutal features.
or consider the suffering he might
cause. But they rather considered
whether they would gain the most
votes by appointing him or the benev-
olent-looking man recommended by
his pastor as a suitable person. Preach
ers are not usually good eleetioneers, and
consequently their recommendations
are hardly ever considered in the dis
tribution of public patronage.
"Old Blaze can preach like blue
blazes.' they thought, "but he didn't
help us to our office, and he can't do
any work to re-elect u.s."
Bill Jones and gallon of cheap
whisky would carry more votes on
election day than all the sermons Old
Blaze might preach in six months, so
they gave the poor-house, at Arnold S
suggestion, to Bill Jones, whom we
find the proprietor when little Amos
Lakeman is entered, by order of Ar
mold, pauper. The little fellow sat
for long time in his hard chair, after
his piteous call for his sister. He was
silent now. Those wretched creatures
had snarled at him like wolves when
they heard him, and it seemed as if
they had claws with which to tear out
his eyes. He could only groan and
sob, while his flushed checks dried up
the tears before they fell. He dared
make no cutlery, though his head was
50 dizzy and his side panied him so
much that he could scarcely maintain
himself in his hard seat. He saw other
creatures around in the yard who were
equally as wretched, dirty and helpless
as those in his room. Bill Jones, with
a large whip more like a slaYe-driver
than a poor-house keeper, was beating
an old man because he could not hoe
in the garden.
You lazy dog" he Numbered, "d'ye
think we're goin' to keep ye here like a
lord, and we do nothin'?'
"Oh, don't, don't" cried the old
man, trying to escape the keen lash of
the whip; I'm report We, if We don't
quit"
Report me, We rascal crack, crack,
crack came the whip about his body
and almost bare legs. The pauper
could only scream with pain. He
backed up in a fence corner and then
crouched down, buried his face in his
hands and arms, while the keen lash
was laid upon his almost bare Shout
ders.
You'll report on me, will YEP This
is for reportin' on me-" Crack, crack,
crack, came the whip, tearing up the
spare flesh and clothing.